(12) 



beautiful satiny appearance, but little strength or durability. They are 

 also used for stuffing pillows and for similar purposes. 



Plant Fibers 



Plant fibers occur in the wood and bark of roots and 

 stems, and in the stems and framework of leaves and fruits, 

 to which structures they impart strength, toughness, and 

 elasticity. Those occurring in the wood are called wood- 

 fibers; those in the bark, bast-fibers. They are composed of 

 elongated and thick-walled cells arranged in strands. 

 They are among the most important of useful vegetable 

 products, being the principal element of value in timber. 

 Of them are constructed ropes, cordage, thread, bagging, 

 matting, linen fabrics and many other articles. They enter 

 largely into the making of paper. In the making of 

 brooms, brushes and some other articles, the entire stems 

 containing the fibers are employed. In making hats, 

 baskets, and many forms of mats, the stems are split into 

 narrow bands, which are woven or plaited together. Chair 

 seats are often made by twisting together the entire leaves 

 of grasses, sedges, and rushes containing tough fibers. For 

 use in ropes, cordage and most woven fabrics, the fibers are 

 removed and freed from adhering tissue and separated into 

 more or less narrow strands. 



In some cases, small plants of a very fibrous nature are 

 used in their entirety, to impart elasticity and for other 

 purposes, as in the two following. 



145. Lichens. — Ramalina complanata (Sw.) Ach. {Usneaceae — Beard-moss Family): 



Dendrographa leucophaea (Tuck.) Darbish and D. minor (Tuck.) Darbish 

 {Roccellaceae — Roccella Family). 



146. Oak-moss. — Species of lichens in the genus Ramalina {Usneaceae). Col- 



lected from oaks. Used for stuffing pillows and mattresses. From the New 

 York market. 



147. Amadou or German tinder. Surgeon's agaric. — The interior of the fruit-body 



of Elfvingiella fomentaria (L.) Murrill (Polyporaceae — Polypore Family) 

 freed from soft, cellular matter and softened, then blocked and pressed to 

 form a peasant's hat. Acquired in Germany and presented by Charles F. 

 Chandler. This product receives the above names because of its native use 

 as tinder and its surgical use for making absorbent compresses. 



148. Resam. — The stems of Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.) Underw. (Gleicheniaceat 



